Convenience store could check out of town

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A convenience store on Water Lane looks set to close unless a buyer can be found, as the company has gone into administration.

KPMG have been appointed administrators to MLCG Limited, the convenience store chain trading as My Local which had 125 shops across the UK.

Ninety stores have now closed, resulting in a significant number of redundancies. While a further three are in the process of being closed, the remaining 32 stores, including the Wilmslow store on Water Lane, are still open and continue to trade.

Mark Orton, partner at KPMG and joint administrator at My Local, said: "Companies across the convenience store sector have faced significant challenges in recent times, through increasing competition, pricing pressures, changes in customers' buying habits and general structural change within the sector. Since taking over the business in October last year, management have faced tough trading conditions and despite their best efforts to improve performance, My Local was ultimately unable to return to viability. Having explored a number of other options, the directors were unable to find a way forward and took the difficult decision to place the company into administration.

"Although the majority of stores have now closed, we are in active discussions with a number of interested parties in relation to both the remaining 32 premises that are trading and a small number of those that have closed. We are pursuing these opportunities as a matter of priority in the hope that we will be able to conclude successful sales and safeguard as many jobs as possible.

"We will also work closely with all employees over the coming days, in particular ensuring those who have been made redundant receive the necessary support they need."

If administrator KPMG cannot find buyers, the Water Lane shop will close along with the remaining stores.

A spokesperson for KPMG said "As it stands, a sale of the Wilmslow site has not been agreed, so the joint administrators are unable to make any comment at this stage."

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My Local
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

John Jennings
Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 11:00 am
One of the current staff told me that the store has been bought by the Coop
And will reopen in a few weeks
Lisa Reeves
Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 11:38 am
Hi John

A member staff also told me that Co-op had bought the shop but when I asked KPMG, the administrators, if Co-op had bought the Wilmslow store they would not confirm this but said

"As it stands, a sale of the Wilmslow site has not been agreed, so the joint administrators are unable to make any comment at this stage."

So maybe the deal has not been finalized as yet.
Peter Shaw
Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 12:29 pm
Wouldn't it be better for Tesco to take over the store, close the horrid old one on Parsonage Green? They should move the post office as well. Then the whole building including the derelict pub could be taken down and some more appropriate use made of the site.
Stuart Redgard
Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 1:21 pm
I can confirm the above comments as I too spoke to a member of staff last night (Tuesday). It looks like Co-op are considering taking over the existing lease, but that the deal hasn't been done yet.
Simon Worthington
Wednesday 13th July 2016 at 7:42 pm
Spot on Peter. And the horrid row of 60s shops. A really attractive and useful development in the middle of town would be great but I am told two landlords are involved. Call in Pete.